My Friend James: Joy
James 1:2 [ESV] 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds
If you don’t already know it from previous blogs, the book of James is my favorite book of the Bible. I have been working off and on for years trying to memorize it thanks to a Beth Moore Bible study on the book. So, today, I start my blog series on my friend James.
This is not going to be an exhaustive study on the book, nor a look into the background of James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ [James 1:1].
After a brief intro, James launches into how and why we should meet trials with joy.
James 1:2-4 [ESV] 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The apostles themselves set an example in this very thing. Acts 5:40-41 [ESV] “and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
Given the trial of being beaten for preaching the Gospel, they rejoiced. I am definitely not there yet.
I have rejoiced to see the end of a trial and to have survived it, but I don’t think I have ever “counted it joy” when I first met a trial along the path of life. And maybe that isn’t exactly what James is asking us to do here.
Perhaps the key to the joy of meeting a trial is in coming out on the other side with growth in faith, finding that we are more steadfast and having gotten closer to perfection and completion for the work that God is doing within us.
Acts 5 does tell us that the apostles rejoiced after the beating, when it was over. They did rejoice at going through it – at being counted worthy to suffer for Jesus. I am not saying they rejoiced because it was over, only when it was over.
Jesus set the same example. We read that He pleaded with the Father to take away the trial of beating and death on the stake. Afterwards, I’m sure the angels in heaven, the Father and Jesus rejoiced.
I am sure that the Father, Jesus and the angels also rejoice when they see each of us go through a trial and come out on the other side stronger in faith and more confident in our own steadfastness.
Like weightlifting, the more we work the greater the weight we can bear. Weightlifting creates tiny tears in the muscles we use. It is the overnight repair that builds the bulk and strength we are seeking while lifting weights.
So, too, our work to make it through trials may leave tiny tears (or maybe large ones), in our bodies, finances and lives, but the bulk up our faith and steadfastness, moving us toward the goal of perfecting God’s work in us.
So, sweet sisters, when you meet a trial, choose to count it as joy for the godly work it brings you. Even if we can only say, “when this is done I will count it as joy for the work God is doing in me and for my hope of future glory with Jesus in the Kingdom.” I don’t think brother James is asking anything more of us.
I hope you will continue to meet with me here and will share your own thoughts on the book of James.
You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org